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American  Dramatists  Series 

A  LIGHT  FROM 
ANOTHER  WORLD 

A  Play  in  One  Act 

C.  H.    McGURRIN 


BOSTON:  THE  GORHAM  PRESS 

TORONTO:    THE    COPP    CLARK    CO.,  LIMITED 


Copyright,  19x5,  by  C.  H.  McGurrin 


All  Rigrhts  Reserved 


ThB    GrORHAM    PRSSS,    BOSTON,   U.    S.    A. 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 


372214 


CHARACTERS 


Eleanor  Withington 
"Spike"  Puffer 
Billings,  a  Footman 


Scene 

Drawing  room  at  the  Withington  Mansion,  Fifth 
Avenue,  N.  Y, 

Stage  Setting — L.  C,  Beautiful  stair  case  leading 
to  landing  high  enough  to  run  L,  from  entrance 
from  hall  across  entire  hack  of  stage.  Under  landing 
C.  large  double  opening  showing  lower  hall  running 
off  L.  Mantel  L.  2  set  obliquely.  Small  chair  im- 
mediately R.  of  entrance  from  hall.  Large  table 
L.  C.  well  down  stage.  R.  of  tabli;.  chair.  R.  C. 
small  table  on  which  telephone  stands.  L.  of  tele- 
phone table,  chair.  Other  appropriate  furnishings 
and  decorations. 

The  room  is  magnificently  furnished,  with  gilt 
furniture,  costly  hangings,  rare  pictures,  pieces  of 
statuary  and  everything  indicating  refinement  of 
taste,  wealth  and  luxury. 

A  gilt  clock  on  the  mantel  indicates  the  hour  of 
7:45. 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER 
WORLD 

On  rise  of  curtain,  enter  Eleanor  WithingtOx\% 
from  stairs.  She  is  dressed  for  the  opera.  Has  a 
letter  in  her  hand  which  she  opens: 

Eleanor 

From  brother  Bob — and  a  special  delivery  too. 
Surely  it  must  be  very  important.  {She  goes  to 
chair  R.  of  larger  table.) 

{She  opens  letter  and  reads)  : 
"Dear  Sis: 

"I'm  in  a  peck  of  trouble."  {Aside)  Same  old 
story.  "In  fact  it's  simply  awful."  {Aside)  Graci- 
ous! This  IS  serious.  "You  see  it  was  this  way: 
I  went  down  to  New  York  last  Thursday  with  the 
squad — the  day  we  played  Columbia.  Now,  I  know 
it  was  fearfully  shabby  of  me  not  to  run  up  to  see 
you  all  even  for  a  minute — but  I  didn't — didn't 
even  call  you  up.  The  truth  is  I  didn't  want  the 
Governor  to  know  that  I  came  down.  Well,  after 
the  game  we  celebrated.  I  remember  when  we  began 
the  celebration — but — that's  about  all.  You  can 
7 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

imagine  the  rest.  Sometime  before  morning  a  few 
of  us  were  in  the  Bowery  district  playing  cards.  I 
lost  what  little  money  I  had  with  me  and  all  I  could 
borrow  from  the  fellows  besides.  Then  it  seems  I 
began  to  draw  checks  on  an  imaginary  bank  account. 
I  gave  two  checks — for  a  thousand  dollars  each — to 
someone.  I  had  forgotten  all  about  this  feature 
of  the  evening's  entertainment  until  I  was  forcibly 
reminded  of  it  this  afternoon  when  I  had  a  call  from 
an  individual  ,  one  'Spike'  Puffer — as  he  calls  him- 
self— a  resident  of  the  district,  a  typical  Bowery 
sport,  who  claims  to  be  the  owner  of  the  checks. 
He  demanded  immediate  payment.  I  pleaded 
with  him  for  time — and  reasoned  with  him  as  hard 
as  I  could.  I  promised  to  pay — but  the  more  I 
showed  a  desire  to  be  decent  and  settle  the  matter 
quietly,  the  more  boisterous  he  became,  and  he 
threatened  to  put  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  the  dis- 
trict attorney.  I  finally  got  him  to  promise  to  call 
at  the  house  to-night,  to  see  the  Governor — I  did 
this  so  that  you  might  see  him  first  and  arrange  it 
in  some  way — you  are  clever  enough  not  to  let  it 
get  up  to  the  Governor  if  this  works  out.  You 
know  what  it  would  mean  for  me,  after  that  last 
experience,  if  Dad  were  to  hear  of  it.  I  will  be 
most  anxious  to  hear  from  you — so  let  me  have  the 

8 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

news,  good  or  bad,  as  soon  as  possible — and  in  the 
meantime  I'll  hope  for  the  best. 

"Your  unfortunate  brother, 

"Bob." 

Poor  Bob!    What  a  silly  boy  you  are  to  be  sure. 

To-night!  (She  looks  at  clock  and  observes  the 
time).  Well,  no  theatre  party  for  ME.  Papa  is 
upstairs  too.  Well,  Bob,  fortune  favors  you  thus 
far. 

{She  rises  and  puis  her  cloak  on  back  of  same 
chair — and  goes  to  telephone  on  table  R.  C. — and 
calls  up), 

"Hello — Riverside  6752.  Is  that  you  Helen, 
dear?  This  is  Eleanor — ^yes,  Eleanor — ^yes.  Dear, 
I'm  very,  very  sorry,  but  it  isn't  going  to  be  pos- 
sible for  me  to  be  one  of  the  party  to-night.  No, 
I've  just  had  a  very  severe  headache  come  on — I'm 
fearfully  ill;  yes — I'm  just  as  sorry  as  I  can  be — 
and  I  was  about  ready,  too.  It's  fortunate  that  I 
caught  you  in  time  so  as  to  save  you  driving  around 
for  me — so  am  I — dear — ^Yes — if  I  should  feel  bet- 
ter within  an  hour  or  so,  perhaps  I'll  have  Dickens 
drive  me  down.  Yes — in  the  left-hand  lower — 
No.  3 — ^very  well.  I  surely  will  if  I  feel  up  to  it. 
That's  very  sweet  of  you,  dear.  Oh  no  indeed — 
not  for  the  world.  Yes,  I  will — good-bye,  dear." 
9 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

Well,  that  much  out  of  the  way. 

(She  goes  to  wall  R. — presses  button  and  BiL- 
LINGS  appears  in  C.  doorway.  Eleanor  goes  over 
L.  C.) 

Billings,  I  am  expecting  a  caller  this  evening — 
a  gentleman — I  mean — (She  has  letter  in  her  hand 
and  glances  at  it) — a  bowery  sport — (Look  of  con- 
sternation overspreads  the  face  of  Billings) — His 
name  is  Spike  Puffer.  Now,  if  Mr.  Puffer  does 
call  do  not  insist  on  formalities  but  show  him  in  im- 
mediately.   That  is  all  Billings. 

Billings 

(With  astonishment.)     Yes,  my  lady. 

(Bell  rings  violently  and  continuously — while 
Billings  looks  first  at  Eleanor  and  then  in  di- 
rection of  door — the  bell  still  ringing.) 

Eleanor 

That  Might  be  the  gentleman  now  Billings. 

Billings 
Yes,  my  lady.      (Exit  Billings  and  Eleanor 

10 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

exit  up  stairs.  Presently  Billings  appears  follow- 
ed by  Spike.  Billings  stops  inside  of  doorway  R, 
Spike  passes  inside  of  him  and  steps  slightly  down 
L.  Spike  is  dressed  in  a  plaid  suit — red  necktie — 
high  collar,  shortly  clipped  black  hair,  ponderous 
mustache — red  over-gaiters  over  patent  leather  shoes, 
large  diamond  in  shirt  front,  massive  watch  chain, 
large  diamond  ring — gloves  in  hand — and  wearing  a 
silk  hat — which  Billings  offers  to  take  as  he  passes 
by  him — but  Spike  jumps  side-ways  out  of  reach 
and  square  off  in  pugilistic  attitude.) 

Billings 

You  may  be  seated  in  here,  sir.     {Points  to  chatt 
in  room.)     Will  I  take  your  hat? 

Spike 

{Drawing  away  out  of  his  reach.)  Not  on  yer 
life — Cappie — ye  don't  get  your  "feelers"  on  dis 
"Lid" — so  now  be  good — be  good,  Cappie —  be 
good.  Your  stunt  now  is  to  tell  de  old  guy  that 
owns  de  shack  as  how  a  gent  wants  for  to  get  a  peep 
at  him — and  be  quick  about  it  too,  for  MISTER 
Puffer  aint  got  no  time  for  to  be  doin'  de  society  on 
II 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

Fifth  Ave.  Dye  get  me? 

{Exit  Billings.  Spike  still  keeping  his  hat  on 
his  head,  goes  in  and  looks  around  the  room  at  the 
different  articles  of  furniture,  much  amazed  by  the 
splendor  of  it  all — remarking  to  himself — "Gee — 
but  d Is  is  a  swell  shack — on  de  level.  His  old  'pipes' 
must  have  plenty  of  de  change — for  sure.") 

{Enter  Eleanor  from  upstairs.  Spike  does  not 
see  her  immediately — but  continues  to  admire  and 
remark  about  the  articles  in  the  room  until  Elean- 
or finally  arrests  his  attention  by  saying — "Good 
evening." 

Spike 

(L.  C.  down  stage — Turning  suddenly  in  her  di- 
rection, again  partly  squaring  off — then  removing 
his  hat  with  a  quick  jerk,  and  replacing  it  on  his 
head).  Hullo,  Sis — ^where's  de  old  guy  what  owns 
de  joint? 

Eleanor 

{Half  repeating  to  herself)  "The  old  guy" — 
You  are  Mr.  Puffer? 


12 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

Spike 

(Bows  profusely  but  grotesquely)  Sure,  I  be. 
Mister  THOMAS  Puffer— "Spike"  Puffer  to  de 
trade.  (Strikes  pose  with  thumbs  under  sleeves  of 
waist  coat).  De  sign  what's  over  de  door  of  de 
place  says  it  all — (Points  as  if  reading  sign)  "Spike" 
Puffer,  Treater-right  of  Gents" — and  I'm  on  de 
level  too — see? 

Eleanor 

(Advances  to  him  and  extends  her  hand)  I  am 
Eleanor  Withington. 

Spike 

(Slightly  jumping  away  from  her  and  again  as- 
suming a  pugilistic  attitude — gradually  gathers  him- 
self— then  walks  over  to  Eleanor^  and  shakes  her 
hand  much  after  the  style  of  the  prize  ring — walks 
back  a  little  ways — turns  to  her.  Tilts  his  hat  on 
one  side  of  his  head).  Well,  "Ellie"  you  look  all 
right  to  me  at  date;  I  suppose  you'se  de  sister  of 
Little  Willie  Sweet-cap. 

Eleanor 
Of  who? 

13 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

Spike 

Of  little  Archie  wid  de  cigarette — de  boy  what 
handed  me  de  bum  mazume. 

Eleanor 

If  you  refer  to  my  brother  Bob,  then  yes.  He 
wrote  me  all  about  it. 

Spike 

Well,  pal,  you're  all  right  at  dat — but  I  wants 
to  see  de  old  guy,  to  get  de  dope  on  whether  he 
wants  to  hand  de  coarse  bills  for  dese  checks  (Pro- 
ducing them.)  for  if  he  don't  "come  across  with 
it,"  I'll  have  little  Archie  taken  out  of  de  spellin' 
factory  and  put  along  side  of  de  boys  what  wears  de 
funny  clothes. 

Eleanor 

Oh  I  understand — ^you  want  to  see  Papa  and  have 
him  redeem  the  checks  that  brother  Bob  gave  you. 

Spike 

You  guessed  it  de  first  thing — and  you're  clever 
at  dat. 

14 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

Eleanor 

Sit  down,  wont  you  Mr.  Puffer?  {Pointing  to 
chair —  and  is  about  to  sit  doiun  herself.) 

Spike 

{Still  inclined  to  back  away.)  No,  I  ain't  got  no 
time  for  to  do  de  heavy  on  visiting — and  I  aint 
strong  wid  de  conversation.  So  I'll  just  take  a  run 
up  de  steps  and  see  his  old  gum-drops  for  meself. 
{Starts  to  go  towards  stairs  but  Eleanor  quickly 
puts  herself  between  him  and  the  stairs.) 

FJleanor 

Oh  no,  you  must  not  do  that.  Besides  Papa 
could  not  see  you  just  now.  Come  and  sit  down 
Mr.  Puffer,  and  let's  you  and  I  talk  the  matter  over, 
and  maybe  I  can  settle  it  with  you. 

Spike 

{Aside.)      She   settle    it — {Laughs.)     Wouldn't 
dat  spill  yer  milk.     {fValks  down  L.  C.)    Gee  but 
what  a  pair  of  lamps  she's  got.     {He  comes  to  the 
15 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

chair  where  Eleanor  has  previously  laid  her  opera- 
coat  and  sits  down  on  the  coat — while  she  unseen  by 
him  runs  and  tries  to  rescue  her  opera  coat  but  is  too 
late — he  still  having  hts  hat  on.) 

Eleanor 

Wont  you  let  me  take  your  hat  Mr.  Puffer? 

Spike 

{Reluctant  to  do  so.)  I'll  let  you  take  it  but 
don't  put  it  where  dat  guy  wid  de  fancy  base-ball 
suit  on  can  get  his  mits  on  it. 

Eleanor 

Oh  no,  I'll  put  it  right  here  where  it  will  be  very 
safe.  {She  puts  his  hat  on  chair  near  door — he 
meanwhile  observing  her  closely — and  she  comes 
back  and  sits  down).  Now,  Mr.  Puffer,  I  want 
you  to  tell  me  all  about  this  affair — how  my  brother 
came  to  give  you  these  checks,  and  all  about  it. 
Won't  you? 

Spike 

Say,  see  here  Sis, — what  are  ye  handing  me?    A 
i6 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

con  game  of  some  kind.  Or  is  this  going  to  be  a 
debatin'  society?  If  it  is,  yours  truly  ain't  dere 
wid  de  goods — so  get  wise  to  it — get  wise  to  it. 

Eleanor 

Surely  you  haven't  any  objection  to  telling  me 
the  circumstances? — that  is  only  fair;  and  I  know 
you  want  to  be  fair  with  me. 

Spike 

(Aside).  She'll  have  me  all  to  de  bad  wid  dem 
lamps  in  a  minute.  I'm  beginning  to  feel  lik  a  dirty 
deuce  already.  (Turning  toward  her).  Say  on  de 
level,  Sis — sure  I  will — sure  I  will.  (He  gets  up 
and  goes  over  and  again  grotesquely  shakes  her  hand 
— then  goes  back,  turns  chair  around  and  sits  on  it). 
But  mind  you,  I  don't  want  you  to  give  me  de 
double  cross — de  ye  see?  Well,  it  was  dis  way — I 
do  my  business  wid  gents — on  de  square — I  do — 
wid  just  gents — gents  all — not  kids — de  ye  see? 
And  it  tells  it  on  de  sign  what's  over  de  door  of 
the  place — in  big  letters  "Spike  Puffer,  Treater 
Right  of  Gents."  (He  rises  and  goes  through  all 
the  motions  illustrating  the  recital). 
17 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

About  a  week  ago,  de  ye  see,  one  night.  In  comes 
Willie  de  Sweet  Cap  into  de  place  wid  three  or 
four  of  his  play-fellows,  do  ye  get  me — and  dey 
all  was  pretty  well  to  de  bad  for  de  steam,  and  de 
first  thing  what  de  does  is  to  order  up  a  drink  all 
round — and  dis  is  on  de  level  lady — for  I  ain't 
going  to  hand  you  no  double  cross — for  Vm  going 
to  give  it  to  you  dead-right.  Well  den  dey  wants 
f er  to  play  a  little  poker ;  and  dey  plays  for  a  while, 
and  de  kid  was  all  to  de  good  on  de  game. 

It  gives  him  de  pranks  and  he  gets  a  bit  cockey, 
de  ye  see?  So  dey  wants  something  fer  to  be  doin' 
in  de  big  line — dey  wants  fer  to  tackle  de  cart- 
wheel and  dey  begins  to  bet  heavy  and  to  lose  dere 
change.  De  rest  of  de  bunch  makes  a  duck  and 
leaves  de  kid  to  go  it  alone  and  soon  he's  all  in. 
Den  I  steps  up  to  him  and  I  says,  says  I — "Sonny 
you'd  better  go  de  hay  and  quit  de  game."  But  he 
wasn't  dere  for  to  hear  me  and  it  was  no  go.  I  tells 
him  "Dere's  nothin'  doing — dere's  nothin'  doin'  " 
— and  de  kid  comes  back  at  me,  de  ye  see — ^he  comes 
back  at  me!  So  he  goes  to  it  and  when  de  blow-off 
comes  he's  all  to  de  bad  on  de  cashin'  in,  and  den 
he  tips  it  off  to  me  who  he  is,  and  he  writes  de  check 
and  I  takes  de  bum  steer  and  cashes  it  for  him  de  ye 
see.  Den  to  de  wheel  again  goes  Willie — and  soon 
i8 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

he's  all  to  de  bad  again,  and  I  puts  myself  In  speak- 
ing distance  and  yells  to  him  to  call  it  all  off — fer 
dere's  nothin'  doin' — but  he's  fer  bein'  game,  and 
he  gets  anoder  of  de  coarse  bills  and  gives  me  anoder 
piece  of  de  bum  paper — and  he  goes  to  it  again,  and 
soon  he's  all  in — and  den  I  shuts  down  for  keeps  on 
de  change  box  and  de  kid  makes  a  duck.  In  de 
morning  I  presents  dese  checks  to  de  bank,  and  I 
gets  de  horse-laugh  and  de  raspberry  all  at  de  same 
time  and  I  finds  dat  I'se  had  de  double-cross  handed 
to  me  do  ye  see  ?  I  locates  Willie  down  in  de  spell- 
ing factory  and  I  goes  down  and  puts  it  up  to  him 
and  he  hands  me  de  old  phoney  dope  of  no  coin.  I 
argues  wid  him  to  make  good  and  in  de  blow-off  I 
gets  a  line  on  de  shack  and  he  tells  me  de  old  man 
will  do  de  heavy  on  cashing  de  bum  paper  and  put 
me  all  to  de  good  again.  Now,  dere's  de  hull  story 
from  start  to  finish  and  told  in  plain  talk  so  you  can 
understand  every  word  of  it.  {He  goes  and  sits  in 
the  chair  again), 

Eleanor 

I  think  I  DO  understand  every  word  of  it,  Mr. 
Puffer.     But  I  want  to  ask  you  if  you  really  think 
you  did  right  in  allowing  my  brother  to  gamble 
19 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

away  this  money  in  your  place,  when  he  was  under 
the  influence  of  liquor. 

Spike 

Nix!  Nix!  Nix!  now  Kid— NIX!  What  line 
of  talk  be  ye  going  to  hand  me  now?  A  salvation 
army  song? 

Eleanor 

(She  stands  up  and  takes  a  step  nearer  to  Spike.) 
No,  Mr.  Puffer,  I  am  going  to  talk  with  you  as 
a  sister  would  talk — a  sister  who  dearly  loves  her 
brother — as  one  who  has  the  honor,  the  life  and  the 
future  of  another  at  heart.  And  I  am  sure  you  will 
listen  to  me  until  I  tell  you  MY  story — wont  you? 

Spike 

{Aside.)  Gee  but  dare's  something  about  dem 
lamps  what  makes  me  do  it  whether  I  want  to  or 
not.  She's  got  me  stung — she's  got  me  stung.  Say, 
sure  I  will,  Miss — sure  I  will — but  make  it  short 
and  den  hurry  and  come  across  wid  the  mazume — 
for  I've  got  to  have  de  two  thousand — and  I  can't 

ao 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

take  no  seventy-five  cents  words  fer  it  neither. 

(During  these  lines  Spike  at  first  grows  uneasy 
and  restless  and  gradually  the  force  of  Eleanor's 
recital  begins  to  make  an  impression  upon  him. 
While  he  tries  to  resist  its  effect  it  is  obviously 
beginning  to  tell  seriously  with  him.  Then  before 
she  is  through  it  has  worked  a  complete  psychological 
change  in  Spike  culminating  in  his  reformation.) 

Eleanor 

I  do  not  suppose  that  anything  I  may  say  to  you 
will  appeal  to  your  sympathies  nor  make  you  fully 
understand  the  subject  of  which  I  shall  speak.  Nor 
will  what  I  shall  say  be  said  in  the  sense  of  trying 
to  evade  the  payment  of  a  debt — for  to  do  that 
would  be  a  breach  of  honor — and  honor  is  of  what 
I  wish  to  speak.  When  I  speak  of  "sympathy,"  I 
mean  rather  that  sympathy  which  exists  between 
the  members  of  a  family  brought  up  in  the  atmos- 
phere of  love  and  affection;  where  the  interests  of 
one  are  the  interests  of  the  other;  where  what  con- 
cerns one,  concerns  all;  where  the  same  joys,  the 
same  sorrows  are  shared  by  each  one  alike — where 
even  so  small  a  thing  as  the  breaking  of  a  little  toy 
is  of  almost  as  much  concern,  in  the  world  I  speak 

ai 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

of,  as  taking  of  a  human  life,  in  the  world  to 
which  I  shall  contrast  it.  I  realize  that  all  of  this 
will  be  strange  to  you — absurd — nonsensical —  ri- 
diculous; for  yours  is  the  life,  the  existence  of  a 
totally  different  world.  A  world  far  removed  from 
everything  where  peace  and  happiness  and  content- 
ment abide; — a  world  where  contentions  and  strifes 
abound — where  children  are  often  conceived  in  sin, 
baptized  in  inhumanity  and  harshness,  reared  in  bru- 
tality and  crime  and  taught  to  believe  that  life's 
goal  is  the  mastery  of  distorted  principles  and  vice; 
where  they  are  taught  to  believe  that  everything  that 
is  decent,  everything  that  is  superior,  everything  that 
is  virtuous — is  a  common  and  legitimate  victim  of 
illegal  traffic.  And  so  when  I  speak  to  you  of  this 
love  of  OURS — this  affection  for  one  another,  this 
consideration  and  love  for  our  own — and  what  it 
really  means,  I  cannot  wonder  at  it  that  you  will 
regard  it  lightly  and  look  upon  it  as  trivial  and  silly. 
You  must  understand  too  that  I  do  not  speak  of 
YOUR  world  without  having  had  actual  experience 
within  it  and  among  the  class  of  people  that  dwell 
in  it.  Because,  for  five  years  I  was  a  daily  visitor 
there,  ministering  to  the  wants  of  the  poor  and 
afflicted  and  the  sick  and  the  needy  and  the  abandon- 
ed. And  I  DO  know  that  once  in  a  while  during 
22 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

this  experience  of  mine  I  found  a  nature  that  was 
foreign  to  its  surroundings — a  life  here  and  there 
that  was  being  stifled  in  the  atmosphere  in  which 
it  existed.     But  such  cases  were  rare  indeed. 

Spike 

(As  if  trying  to  throw  off  the  effect  it  has  pro-' 
duced.)  Say  kid — ^you  can't  get  by  wid  dat  stuff — 
I  want  my  money. 

Eleanor 

Oh  Please  try  to  understand  that  it  is  not  my  pur- 
pose to  ask  you  any  favor  in  the  matter  of  cancel- 
ling this  obligation — for  I  mean  that  you  shall  be 
paid  in  full  for  this  debt  of  my  brother.  I  do  want  to 
appeal  to  you,  however,  and  ask  you  if  you  will 
not  some  time  think  over  it  in  the  hope  that  you 
might  realize  that  you  are  doing  a  great  wrong  in 
carrying  on  this  traffic — a  traffic  which  is  daily  ruin- 
ing many  lives  that  otherwise  would  be  useful  lives 
— lives  that  are  so  dear  and  so  precious  to  someone 
— somewhere.  The  sign  over  your  door  which  as 
you  say  reads  "Spike  PuflEer,  Treater-right  of 
Gents" — reads   instead   "Young  lives   ruined — and 

23 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

Hearts  broken  here" — for  that  is  what  It  in  re- 
ality says — and  in  letters  of  fire.  But  YOU  do  not 
think  of  these  things.  I  know  that  you  do  not  kno^\ 
how  much  it  means  to  mothers,  to  sisters,  to  fath- 
ers— to  those  who  hold  these  lives  that  you  do  so 
much  to  ruin  and  blight.  But  maybe  you  WILL 
sometime  think  it  over — and  who  knows — maybe 
the  time  will  come  when  the  light  will  shine  through 
all  this  horrible  gloom — ^As  a  Light  From  Anoth- 
er World — and  show  you  what  a  great  wrong  it 
is  after  all.  I  know  that  your  kind  of  people  are 
not  ALL  without  feeling.  I  know  that  sometime 
they  DO  have  love  and  affection,  and  that  some- 
times their  love  and  affection  is  as  pure  and  noble 
as  any  love  can  be. 

Spike 

{Aside  and  in  deep  earnest).     Yes — dat's  so— 
sometimes  dey  do. 

Eleanor 

I  remember  one  case  during  my  ministrations  and 
work  in  those  settlements — a  family  of  four — the 
father,  mother,  a  brother  and  a  sister.     It  was  the 
2A 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

oft-repeated  story  with  them — the  father  sent  to 
prison,  the  mother,  sickly  and  worn  out  by  sorrow 
and  toil  going  at  length  to  her  well-earned  peace- 
ful rest — the  first,  really,  she  had  ever  known — 
leaving  the  brother  and  the  sister  alone.  I  remem- 
ber the  sister — a  sweet  little  girl  of  fourteen — and 
the  brother,  a  boy  of  sixteen  her  only  support.  And 
how  that  brother  did  love  his  little  sister!  No  af- 
fection COULD  have  been  stronger  and  no  love  great- 
er than  his.  His  sister  was  his  first  thought  in  all 
things;  and  no  sacrifice  was  too  great  for  him  to 
make  in  order  that  she  might  be  comfortable  and 
happy.  But,  alas,  she  was  a  flower  too  tender  to 
survive  the  chilling  winds  that  prevailed  there,  and 
to  live  in  an  atmosphere  that  could  give  her  no  sus- 
tenance— and  so.  she  faded  away,  day  by  day — and 
we  all  were  helpless.  Her's  was  indeed  a  sweet 
nature  and  a  beautiful  character.  I  grew  to  be  very 
fond  of  her.  I  visited  her  every  day  for  a  long  time. 
One  morning,  in  the  early  autumn  when  the  leaves 
were  turning — ^when  the  flowers  were  withering — 
when  all  the  nature  was  beginning  to  die — she  be- 
gan to  die  too — and  so  she  left  us,  and  the  brother's 
heart  was  broken — for  all  that  he  loved  on  earth 
had  gone  away.  He  could  not  be  consoled.  He  grew 
hardened  in  the  midst  of  his  surroundings  and  he 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

finally  adopted  the  life  that  was  ever5^where  around 
him. 

I  speak  of  this  so  you  will  understand  that  I  feel 
something  might  possibly  be  accomplished  in  the 
direction  I  speak  of.  I  will  be  contented  if  you 
will  even  sometime  think  on  what  I  have  told  you 
of  the  mothers,  the  fathers  and  the  sisters  and  the 
brothers  that  often  suffer  so  much  and  who  are 
made  to  thus  suffer  through  wanton  indifference  to 
A^hat  concerns  them  most. 

Now,  I  desire  to  arrange  to  pay  you  the  amount 
of  these  checks. 

Spike 

(Rises).  Who  has  gradually  become  interested 
and  absorbed  in  what  was  being  said  and  visibly  af- 
fected by  it  and  who  is  now  thoroughly  conquered) , 
Say  lady — ^hold  on  for  a  minute — don't  talk  of  dat 
fer  just  a  minute.  You'se  pretty  near  done  de 
business  wid  me — dats  what  you've  done — ^pretty 
near  done  de  business.  Besides,  I  ain't  long  on  de 
conversation,  and  besides  dat  I  can't  put  up  no  talk 
for  to  tell  you  much  about  it — for  I  ain't  never  had 
no  show  at  spellin'  and  such —  But  I  do  know  that 
once  before  I  seen  a  lady  like  you — and  she  was  kind 
26 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

too — just  like  you  was  to  dat  little  sis — it  just  done 
de  business  wid  me — dat's  what  it  done — ^just  about 
done  de  business.  For  I  had  a  little  sis  once — and 
'he  was  about  all  dere  was  in  it  for  me — and  she 
took  sick  and  died  too — ^just  like  dat  other  one — 
what  you  tell  about — and  dis  same  lady  what  I  tells 
you  about  was  HER  friend — and  when  little  sis 
died  I  never  seen  dat  lady  no  more  after  dat  at  all 
— nd  I'd  of  just  took  right  out  my  heart  for  her, 
for  what  she  done  for  my  little  sis — dat's  what  I 
would  have  done — ^just  took  it  right  out  for  her — 

Eleanor 

Ah,  if  you  thought  as  much  of  your  sister  as  this 
brother  thought  of  his  "Little  Bo-Peep"  as  he  called 
her — 

Spike 

{In  astonishment),  Bo-Peep !  {Inaudible  whis- 
per). Why — dat  was  de  very  thing  what  I  called 
MY  sister — and — you — why  you — are  dat  very 
LADY.  {He  is  so  overcome  by  emotion  that  he  can- 
not speak — nor  does  he  know  just  what  to  do  to  ex- 
press his  great  awe  and  reverence  for  Eleanor; 
27 


A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD 

he  is  standing  behind  her,  and  falls  on  one  knee, 
kisses  the  hem  of  her  gown — repeating  to  himself — 
in  an  audible  whisper).  "You  are  dat  very  lady" — 
{he  rises,  looks  at  Eleanor  in  awe,  slowly  takes  out 
checks  from  his  pocket — tears  them  in  two,  walks 
over  and  puts  them  on  table).  Dere  dey  be,  lady — 
{choking  with  emotion)  dere  dey  be,  lady — {He 
walks  towards  the  door,  then  turns).  And  besides 
dat,  lady — God  bless  you — and  God  bless  your 
brother  Bob — and  God  bless  your  father  too — God 
bless  you  most  of  all — {He  goes  near  door,  takes 
his  hat  and  as  he  is  about  to  go  into  hall)  and 
besides — Vm  going  to  take  down  de  sign  what's 
over  de  door  of  de  place — fer  dere  ain't  going  to 
be  no  more  Spike  Puffer's  place — for  I'm  tru  wid 
de  hull  game!  {Exits.  Eleanor  goes  and  rings 
bell — Billings  appears). 

Eleanor 

{Goes  C.  looks  at  clock).  Billings,  you  may  say 
to  Dickens  that  I  will  drive  to  the  theatre.  {She 
takes  her  coat  from  chair,  and  is  about  to  exit). 

CURTAIN 
28 


BOO.S  not  -.urned  on  time  -  -SoncSin. 

SEP  30  1^ 

-.ES-23192? 


50m-7,'l 


^.<p.. 


VB  31860 


372214 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  LIBRARY 


